faqs

Q. you are based in Ballymena, do you work further afield?A. yes, we have projects all over Northern Ireland and have been involved in several projects in Donegal.

Q. what type of design do you produce in terms of contemporary or traditional?A. contemporary design is good but we have designed many traditional buildings as well. we do not force a particular style but tailor the design to the client's requirements.

Q. what are your fees for a dwelling?A. this depends on the level of service. for new dwellings we base our fee on the area of the building ie: a cost per square metre. our fees are very competitive.

Q. what level of service do you provide?A. we offer whatever level the client wishes. This ranges from a sketch design through to a complete inception to completion service. we find that clients embarking on a new dwelling project require sketch designs, working drawings and statutory approvals. clients wishing to construct a church building, offices, shops, warehousing etc usually prefer the full package. the fee for this type of project is usually a percentage of the build cost.

Q. do you offer a free consultation?A. we are very happy to meet with a potential client to give initial advice, discuss the process and provide an indication of fees.

Q. are you involved in energy conservation?A. SAP's, EPC's and SBEM's are all terms that relate to energy calculations within the building industry. we are involved in all of these areas on a regular basis and provide these calculations as part of our service.

Q. how do you organise other consultations on a larger project?A. these types of projects usually require a full design team consisting of a quantity surveyor, structural engineer, M+E engineers and CDM co-ordinator. we employ fellow professionals on a regular basis to carry out these roles. the fees for the design package are usually based on a percentage of the build cost.

Q. are you able to certify for mortgage purposes?A. yes we have the qualifications to certify and the necessary insurance.